Our Mission

Don’s career includes national leadership in public lands management and natural resource policy with USFS, NPS, FWS, BLM, NGOs and states. He served as SCA’s Alaska regional director establishing its state office, and strategic alliances supporting programs in fisheries, forestry and recreation resources.

Areas of his specialized work include trails and recreation resource management, community protection in wildland fire, invasive species mitigation, Wild and Scenic rivers management, and  Wilderness science and stewardship.

Don served as wilderness social scientist and planner with the USDA Forest Service; founder and board chair of the Society of Wilderness Stewardship; member of the Western Governors Association Forest Health Advisory Committee; and member of the Public Lands Service Coalition.

Don has a MES in wilderness management and BA in environmental journalism.

I’ve worked on restoration projects around the region and was key to successful implementation of the Northwest Straits Initiative’s creosote debris removal program and an important partner on many nearshore projects.

Experiencing this beautiful state by climbing, back country skiing, kayaking, and hiking has only grown my love for it. By helping Northwest Straits Foundation with the day-to-day tasks, I hope to protect the area and its inhabitants so the future can see the beauty I am blessed to see everyday.

I have always been a frequent backpacker as well as an avid recreational fisherman, therefore, I have spent much of my time observing wildlife habitat and how drastically it has changed in such a short period of time. 

My observations caused me to develop a tremendous amount of empathy for these species and ultimately drew me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Western Washington University.

My time spent procuring this degree supplied me with the knowledge I need to pursue a career in restoration, and my position as a Marine Fellow with the Northwest Straits Foundation will provide me with the opportunity to turn this knowledge into experience. I hope that by taking part in restoring our shorelines and monitoring fish activity in the Pacific Northwest region I can help repair the complex marine ecosystem which our wildlife so desperately rely on.

on the Snohomish MRC, including serving two terms as chair of the committee. Jerry is past chair of the Northwest Straits Commission and also serves as a gubernatorial appointee to the Northwest Straits Commission. Jerry is excited by the Initiative’s ability to accomplish work through voluntary actions and its sense that responsibility for environmental outcomes should be shared by all.

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She lives in Seattle where she is a Senior Advisor for 501 Commons Service Corps–orienting and supporting volunteers who help build the capacity of nonprofits throughout Washington State. She had her own consulting practice and has worked with nonprofits, foundations and local governments.  Nan previously managed the Environmental Sustainability Program for The Russell Family Foundation.  From 1985 to 2002, she served three Washington Governors, first as deputy director and executive director of the Puget Sound Water Quality Authority and later as chair of the Puget Sound Action Team. Prior to that, Nan worked as Energy Project Coordinator for the Washington State associations of cities and counties. She also worked for the League of Oregon Cities on issues ranging from land use and growth management to energy policy and election law.  Nan has served on a variety of public and nonprofit boards.  She was a founding member of the Association of National Estuary Programs and is a past president of the Environmental Education Association of Washington.  She currently chairs the board of the Sustainable Path Foundation and serves on the boards of North Cascades Institute and Western River Conservancy.  She is also a member of advisory boards to Curriculum for the Bioregion, the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, and the Salish Sea Institute.

Rachel has built a diverse skillset and wide knowledge of Salish Sea/Western Washington ecology, watersheds, and communities through 20+ years of working for local businesses and regional and local nonprofits, with a focus on natural history, Puget Sound recovery, habitat restoration, scientific monitoring, community engagement, and outreach and education projects. She recently joined the WA Department of Natural Resources in a unique, cross-sectional role overseeing implementation and tracking of the Watershed Resilience Action Plan for the Snohomish River basin, a coordinated effort to support salmon recovery, resiliency, and vibrant communities in this large and important watershed. Rachel has a long history with the Northwest Straits Initiative, having served on both the Skagit and Whatcom Marine Resources Committees, as well as a member of the NW Straits Commission. She lives in Bellingham with her partner, two teenage sons, 2 dogs, one cat, and a flock of happy chickens.

After completing his BA in Biology at Whittier College in 1995, Adam moved to Bellingham and was introduced to the Salish Sea and our Southern Resident Orca families working as a whale watching naturalist.  His passion for connecting individuals and communities with the marine environment led him to pursue an M.Ed from the College of the Environment at Western Washington University.  Since completing his degree, Adam has worked in community outreach, education and natural resource restoration from the crest of the Cascades to the San Juan Islands and beyond.  Working with non-profits, Washington State Parks and Tribal Communities has given Adam a broad perspective on marine conservation challenges and solutions across our region.  Currently living and working in Bellingham, Adam and his family enjoy nothing more than being out on the water and exploring local beaches.

She has worked on a broad range of issues including forest canopy research, rare plant conservation, natural area stewardship, native oyster restoration, water quality, shoreline and estuary restoration and climate change. Her interest is in bring together people, funding, technical resources and sound science to make informed decisions and strategic investments in Puget Sound. She believes healthy, functioning habitats are key to supporting vibrant and sustainable local communities. She values the Northwest Straits Foundation’s commitment to informed policy through sound science, citizen engagement, public-private partnerships, and voluntary conservation. Betsy was an integral member of the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Program which created the state’s nearshore ecosystem restoration strategy for Puget Sound. She helped create and manage the Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program which provides funding and technical assistance for high quality nearshore restoration, protection and monitoring in Puget Sound. She has a BS in Botany from the University of Washington and a Master of Environmental Studies from the Evergreen State College. She currently lives and works in the Seattle area.

 and has spent his career in industry and consulting roles focused on customer strategy and marketing. He’s passionate about working with broad stakeholder groups to foster shared commitment, activism, and investment in protecting and preserving our natural environment and biodiversity. When not working, you’ll find Clay enjoying the Pacific Northwest by sailing in the Salish Sea, backcountry skiing in the Cascades, or ambling around local trails.